Active Japanese

Active Japanese is a class activity book for beginner level students. It is designed to help learners acquire the basic ability in listening, speaking, reading and writing in Japanese required to express themselves and about their surroundings; to raise motivation for further learning of Japanese, and to develop awareness of the major characteristics of the language. The book consists of 18 units of classroom materials(text and worksheets). It also has a reference section containing grammar descriptions and useful expressions.

The conventional portrayal of Japan’s role in international affairs is of a passive political player which – despite its position as the world’s second largest economic power – punches below its weight on the world stage: its foreign policy driven by Washington, mercantilism and constrained by domestic pacifism. This book examines Japan’s emerging identity as an important participant in conflict prevention and peace-building in Southeast and South Asia, demonstrating that Japan has increasingly sought a positive and active political role commensurate with its economic pre-eminence. The book considers Japanese involvement in many of the region’s most serious recent conflicts: including Japan’s part in the brokering and maintaining of peace in Cambodia, which in 1992 saw the first dispatch of troops abroad by Tokyo since the end of World War II, and the attempts to bring peace to Aceh, Sri Lanka, East Timor and Mindanao. The Japanese example, when compared with other countries prominent in the fields of conflict prevention, suggests that Tokyo – given its pacifist strategic culture – relies on diplomacy and Official Development Assistance rather than peace enforcement through military means. Overall, this book provides a lucid appraisal of Japan’s overall foreign policy, as well as its new role in conflict prevention and peace-building - analysing the reasons behind this shift towards an active international role and assessing the degree of success it has enjoyed.

Talk Japanese Enhanced eBook (with audio) - Learn Japanese with BBC Active The bestselling way to make learning Japanese easy "Determined to learn the language but no time for nightschool? Try the BBC Talk short courses." The Guardian Learn even faster and smarter with the flexibility, speed and convenience of this enhanced eBook. Everything you need is just where you need it: navigate the book with ease, practise your listening and speaking skills, test your progress and access valuable language notes all with one touch from the page you're on. Talk Japanese has already inspired thousands of people to learn Japanese from scratch and find the confidence to give it a go. It is a bestselling course, widely used both in the classroom and by independent learners. Make fast progress right from the start using the successful, proven Talk method - with specially designed activities, interactive audio and clear, jargon-free grammar explanations. Develop your language skills with tips and strategies to help you learn. Express yourself more confidently through taking part in real Japanese conversations. Whether you're learning for business, travel or just for fun, this straightforward, step-by-step approach will ensure you're soon able to speak Japanese in a range of everyday situations. Learner reviews of the book/CD version of Talk Japanese: "Overall, this is probably the best pack you could buy to learn. It is thorough, easy to learn, contains activities and includes how to write in Japanese also. Buy Buy Buy!" "Excellent Package! A simple, step-by-step, practical approach to learning Japanese." "This is an excellent book for someone who is trying to learn Japanese from scratch." Also available in Arabic, French, German, Greek, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

A valuable addition to ABC-CLIO's Global Studies series, this resource covers Japan in two main sections—a narrative history and an extensive general reference section. Japan: A Global Studies Handbook offers a friendly introduction to this vital, ancient country. In a series of practical, readable essays, this title explores Japan's island geography and its influence on the nation's history. Japan traces the "economic miracle" that was born in the ashes of World War II and grew into an economy seven times the size of China's—but at considerable social cost. It examines Japan's vibrant cultural traditions—from the 11th century's The Tale of Genji to karaoke, sushi, and the "salary man." Japan entices readers to continue their exploration by offering an inviting collection of jumping-off points: a timeline of Japanese history; a mini-encyclopedia of significant people, places, and events; and an annotated bibliography covering all aspects of Japanese society.

Language & linguistics - Japanese.